Siena hires assistant coach

The Siena men’s basketball team tapped an assistant from Villanova, a Big East school, to fill the vacancy on its coaching staff.

The Saints announced Thursday the hiring of Andrew Francis, most recently an administrative assistant and video coordinator for the Wildcats.

Francis, a Brooklyn native, fills the assistant-coaching position vacated by Rob Pryor, who left last month to return to Air Force, his alma mater.

Francis, who interviewed for the job Friday in Loudonville, said his primary duties at Villanova included breaking down film for scouting purposes and serving as a mentor and academic advisor to players.

“I wanted coach McCaffery to see that part of my job was working with players, mentoring,” Francis said. “That was something I felt was really important.”

Francis, a graduate of Brooklyn’s Lincoln High School who later attended Fulton Montgomery Community College, said he forged a number of New York City-area connections while at Villanova.

He also thanked Villanova coach Jay Wright, who recommended Francis to McCaffery, for allowing him to be part of the recruiting process by talking with and meeting recruits on campus.

“I think I can definitely help in that area,” Francis said. “I have good relationships with people from the city.”

Francis plans to report to work Friday.

“He will hit the ground running and play a key role in all facets of our program, including recruiting, player development and scouting,” Siena coach Fran McCaffery said.

The 32-year-old Francis graduated from LIU-Southampton in 1998, then played professional basketball in Mexico. He served as the women’s coach at Mount Saint Vincent College and worked as a volunteer assistant in the United States Basketball League before landing at Villanova.